Chemical Patent Agent/Technical Advisor

A law firm in Alexandria, VA, is seeking a Chemical Patent Agent/Technical Advisor with 1-2 years of experience in patent application drafting or prosecution. The ideal candidate will have a technical background in inorganic or organic chemistry, with a preference for a Master’s or Doctorate in the relevant field. Industry experience is advantageous, and fluency in a foreign language such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, or German is a plus. Superior technical knowledge, writing, and communication skills are essential for responsibilities including drafting patent applications, analyzing and preparing replies to office actions, conducting invention and disclosure meetings/calls with clients, and prosecuting patent applications.

Duties:

• Draft patent applications in the field of inorganic or organic chemistry.
• Analyze and prepare responses to office actions from patent offices.
• Conduct invention and disclosure meetings/calls with clients to gather necessary information.
• Prosecute patent applications before patent offices.
• Provide technical expertise and support to attorneys and clients in patent matters.
• Conduct prior art searches and analyze patentability and freedom-to-operate issues.
• Assist with patent portfolio management and strategy development.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or related field; Master’s or Doctorate preferred.
• 1-2 years of experience in patent application drafting or prosecution.
• Technical background in inorganic or organic chemistry.
• Admission to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is preferred.
• Industry experience in chemical-related fields is advantageous.
• Fluency in a foreign language (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, or German) is a plus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or related field; Master’s or Doctorate preferred.

Certifications:

Admission to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) preferred.

Skills:

• Patent application drafting and prosecution experience.
• Superior technical knowledge in inorganic or organic chemistry.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Fluency in a foreign language (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, or German) is a plus.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.

This mid-sized Virginia office is one of the largest firms in the United States specializing exclusively in intellectual property law. Specialties of the firm include, but are not limited to, interference law, chemical/biotech patent law, electrical/mechanical patent law, software patent law, copyright law, and trademark law. They represent domestic and international clients, including multinational corporations, foreign and United States government agencies, universities, and businesses of every size. Attorneys enjoy a friendly work environment and receive nice salaries.